Smithfield, R.I. – Senior catcher
Jordan Gurganus collected her 220th career hit as the
Robert Morris University softball team took two games in a Northeast Conference doubleheader at Bryant University Monday afternoon. The Colonials are now 4-0 in NEC play and improve to 10-21 overall while the Bulldogs slip to 5-24 and 0-2 in the conference.
Gurganus hit a line-drive single to center field on the first pitch she saw in the fifth inning of game one, her second base knock of the day putting on top of the career hits leaderboard. It breaks the record set by Jill Spargo (2004-07). The senior finished 4-of-8 to run her career total to 222 hits. Her .357 career batting average puts her second in team history (.359, Jaci Timko 2009-12).
Natalie Higgins collected four hits in seven at-bats, including a pair of doubles, and scored three runs.
Taryn Miller and
Abrielle McCartney each had three hits, two runs scored and a two runs batted in. Seven of the nine players who batted Monday had two hits, including
Briana Bunner who led the day with three runs batted in.
After two scoreless innings in the opener, Miller started the scoring by hitting a solo shot to left field, her second homer of the season.
Taylor Bartlow followed with a double and Gurganus beat out an infield single. McCartney then came through with a two-run scoring single through the left side that put the Colonials on top, 3-0. Higgins drove in
Stacey Capp in the fifth inning before Bunner laced a double up the middle that brought home McCartney.
Kaitlin Ellzy cruised through six innings before Bryant finally got something going in the seventh inning. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases before a wild pitch allowed the Bulldogs first run of the day to score. A groundout to shortstop plated another run before the sophomore righty closed out the game, 5-2. Ellzy went the distance, striking out a season-high seven batters and allowing just four hits to collect her third win of the weekend.
Neither team could get a runner across the plate in the first four innings of game two. That would change in the fifth inning as Higgins walked to start the frame and would move to second on a sacrifice by Bunner.
Kristen Pray picked a good time to record her first extra-base hit of the season, lacing a double to right field that scored Higgins.
Madison Riggle had worked her way out of trouble for the first four innings before finally succumbing in the bottom of the fifth. A hit batter came around to score on a double by Rachel Monroe. Marianna Politis followed with a single through the right side to score Monroe and but Bryant on top, 2-1.
Laura Coulter came on in relief and brought the thunder from down under, striking out two batters to end the threat.
Trailing by one in the seventh, Higgins started the frame with a double to left center. Miller then came through with a clutch single that scored the tying run and sent the game into extra innings.
In the eighth, McCartney and Higgins singled and doubled, setting the plate for Bunner who brought them both home with a single. Bartlow singled through the box to make it a 5-2 RMU lead and Capp would force home another run with a ball to second base.
The Colonials needed every one of those runs as the Bulldogs refused to go away quietly. A single and walk was followed by a three-run bomb by Kaleigh Goulart that made it a one-run game. Head coach Craig Coleman once again went to Ellzy to close things out. She would get the final three outs via strikeouts to get her first save of the season. Coulter picked up the victory in 2.2 innings of relief. Riggle tossed 4.1 innings, scattering five hits and striking out three. She was charged with two runs.
The Colonials travel to St. Bonaventure Wednesday afternoon for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.
